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Birby
 
 
 
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  • Review count
    62
  • Helpfulness votes
    136
  • First review
    December 13, 2014
  • Last review
    December 20, 2023
  • Featured reviews
    0
  • Average rating
    4.5
 
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  • Answer count
    5
  • Helpfulness votes
    11
  • First answer
    December 13, 2014
  • Last answer
    September 16, 2018
  • Featured answers
    0
  • Best answers
    2
 
 
Birby's Reviews
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Behold your new best friend, your partner in play, your compadre in competition. The OMEN 25L Desktop PC packs an AMD Ryzen processor with a dazzling AMD Radeon graphics card, so you can play on your level and look good while you're doing it.
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Gaming works, Omen Gaming Hub does not
on December 20, 2023
Posted by: Birby
Installation and setup were simple. The computer was in a sturdy bag with handles, so it was easy to remove from the box. Plug in the power and monitor, and the provided keyboard and mouse and power it on. Windows 11 walks you through the setup. Once it was powered on an updated, it takes 15 seconds from pushing the power button to get to the login screen.
I like the design of the tower. The open side with the fan and RAM light up is nice. I like the audio and USB connections on the top front.
There isn't much software included with this computer, which I like. I don't need the vendor to install a bunch of software I'll never use. It has some HP software, the Open Gaming Hub (more on that later), AMD software, MS Office, and Xbox (including a trial of Xbox Game Pass ultimate).
I'm very disappointed with the Omen Gaming Hub software, which is what you use to customize the PC or boost performance. The first time I opened it, I just walked through the tutorials and was looking around and I got a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). In order to get the Omen software to work again, I had to repair the installation and reset the settings. Any time after that I tried to use the boost or make any changes, I would get a BSOD pretty soon after starting a game. I eventually gave up on it and reset the settings and completely stopped using it. After giving up on the Omen Gaming Hub, I haven't had any issues gaming. What's disappointing is that I can't even turn off the lights in the chassis using that software otherwise I get a BSOD. I tried looking into updating the Omen software, but I'm not sure I can do that without creating an account, which is ridiculous. I've read some things that maybe it's a driver issue, but it shouldn't come from the factory in such a bad state.
On the other hand, the AMD software works great. It comes with predefined profiles for gaming, entertainment, etc. You have the ability to create a customized experience for graphics. You can even customize the graphics by game, which is nice, for instance, maybe you want one to be more performant and another to look stunning, you can do that in this software without having to make a change every time.
From a gaming perspective, this is a solid rig. Gaming is smooth with no issues. Fortnite averages 132 FPS and Battlefront II averages 183 FPS (It's old at this point, but still fun). Once I stopped playing with the Omen software, gaming worked flawlessly.
Overall, I like this computer, but the Omen software is really bad. Maybe a future update will fix it, but as it stands, the main software HP provides for this PC is really bad.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
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Introducing eufy SoloCam S340, a secure, smart, and sustainable home security solution. The outdoor camera allows you to keep an eye on family, monitor deliveries, and simply stay aware of your home’s surroundings when away. Equipped with dual cameras, enjoy unparalleled 3K resolution and highly detailed views with 8X zooming capabilities. Goodbye blind spots as the camera covers front yards, backyards, porches, and the sides of your home with 360° pan and 70° tilt coverage. Ideal for day and evenings, the f/1.6 aperture lens captures 20% more light, delivering vivid images up to 26 ft (8 m) away. Gain only relevant notifications as onboard AI intelligently detects then tracks humans, pets, and vehicles, zooming in to keep the subject in focus. Just 2 hours of direct sunlight daily is all that’s needed to keep it continuously powered. For overcast weather days, the built-in battery provides up to 3 months of reserve power ensuring you're always covered.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent Camera with Many Features
on October 24, 2023
Posted by: Birby
I started my Eufy journey with a Video Doorbell 2K. I like having the awareness in addition to security. I wanted to get another camera for the driveway, but I didn't want to have to remove it to charge the camera. The Eufy Solocam S340 solves that problem with the adjustable/removeable solar panel.
PROS
-Subscription free security.
-Content is stored locally, not in the cloud
-Self-contained unit, no HomeBase or other device required
-Dual cameras allows for wide angle and zoom in one view
-Easy installation and setup.
-Solar panel for year round operation without having to manually charge the camera
-Can track people and vehicles, then return to the default view
-Great black and white night vision
CONS
-It would be nice if the camera worked with the older HomeBase 2, but since it has its own storage, it's not a huge deal
-The screws that were provided didn't do well with vinyl siding, but that's very minor and specific to my situation.
SETUP: As stated, I already have a Eufy doorbell, so I already had the Eufy app and account, otherwise you'd need to download the app and create an account. Setup for the new device was simple. The app walks you through connecting the camera to your WIFI and setting it up. If you have a HomeBase 3, you can also set it up to use that for additional storage and additional features, like BionicMind. I only have a HomeBase 2, and it appears the S340 won't work with the older HomeBase.
INSTALLATION: The camera comes with a booklet with instructions on how to install. There is also a mounting guide in the app for the S340. Mounting the camera was straightforward. You can either mount the solar panel directly on the camera or you can use the included 10 ft extension to mount the solar panel in a better location to catch the sun. I'm starting with the solar panel on the camera, but I can raise it up higher on the house if necessary. The solar panel can be pointed in any direction and any angle, which allows you to get it in exactly the right direction and angle for the location of the camera and optimal sun exposure. I found that the screws weren't good enough to go through vinyl siding, but I just used some different screws that went right through. It would have been nice to have recommendations on where to point the solar panel and at what angle it should be, but maybe it depends on your latitude, but general guidelines would have been helpful. A quick google search provided the answer.
CAMERA FEATURES:
-The dual camera is really nice. You have a wide angle lens and a zoomed lens. It's really nice that you can see both in one view in the app.
-Night vision is just as good, if not better than my doorbell. The camera has a 100 lumen light, but it doesn't need that to see in the dark. Just like with my doorbell, this camera can detect and only alert on humans, but will also detect vehicles.
-The camera's 100 lumen light isn't very bright, but I don’t need it anyway. I think it’s more to allow for color video at night and not to light up your yard.
CONTROL USING THE APP:
-Live view: When viewing the camera in the app, you can view a live stream and can tilt and pan the camera at will. You can define 4 preset positions and have a default position, so if the AI tracks a person of vehicle, the camera returns to the default preset. Other features in live streaming view: you can record what you see, turn on the light, trigger the alarm and more.
-Power Management: The app allows you to adjust the power management to optimize battery life, surveillance or customize the recording length. There are other settings, that can affect battery life, but as long as you get 2 hours of sunlight a day on a regular basis, you can probably keep the settings for better surveillance.
-Activity zone: I found that where I had the camera pointed triggered cars along the road, but you can define an activity zone so the camera only triggers based off movement within that specific zone.
CONCLUSION: This camera is exactly what I was looking for. It's an external, battery operated camera that doesn't need to be manually charged because of the solar panel. I am very impressed with the features of this camera, they pack a lot of features and settings into the app. I would definitely recommend this camera.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
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Level up with QuietComfort Ultra headphones – immersive, personalized sound meets premium, next-level noise cancelling headphones. Pushing the boundaries with breakthrough spatial audio, these wireless headphones take what you’re hearing inside your head and place it in front of you for more natural, real sounding music. Whatever your music source, it’s just like listening to it live when you’re wearing the QC Ultra headphones. Unique to Bose, the QC Ultra headphones feature CustomTune technology which analyzes your ear’s shape and adapts the audio performance so everything you listen to hits exactly as it should. You won’t want to take them off because of the refined and premium materials. The cushions wrap your ears in a soft hug. The headband spreads pressure evenly. And sleek metal arms add a statement of sophisticated design. Connect to your devices with advanced Bluetooth 5.3 headphones and keep track of what you have paired in the Bose Music app. It also walks you through setup, gives you access to Adjustable EQ settings, and more. The QuietComfort Ultra headphones, sound just got real. Available in Bose Black or Smoke White.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent Noise Cancelling Headphones
on October 15, 2023
Posted by: Birby
I have recently started going back into the office, but after working from home for 3 years, I can't stand all the noise in the office. I needed something to help me focus, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are just what I needed. These are my first noise cancelling headphones and I'm very impressed.
HARDWARE: The build quality is excellent. The headphones fit nicely in the compact case that is provided. A nice touch they added is an image inside the case to show you the proper position the headphones should go in the case. The headphones are comfortable to wear, from the ear cups, to the padding against your head.
USABILITY: The headphones have two buttons, one for controlling the music and audio modes and the other for power and phone connectivity. It's easy to switch audio modes, pause, change tracks, etc. There is a virtual slider on the ear cup for changing the volume. I really like how easy it is to change the volume using that slider without having extra buttons.
SOUND QUALITY: The sound quality is excellent. I'm not a hardcore audiophile, but I can appreciate the sound quality is much better than the top tier ear buds I previously used. What I'm really impressed is with the noise cancellation. I didn't realize how much noise it would filter out. I tested it at work and the phone conversations were almost completely filtered out, whereas they used to drive me nuts. As i write this review I'm wearing the headphones so I can focus while my son is watching TV.
FEATURES: The setup with the app was very easy and the app itself is great. By you have 3 modes configured by default: Quiet, Aware and Immersion. You can add or remove any that you want and you can customize the amount of noise cancelling, on a scale of 1-10. You can adjust the EQ using the app, I like to boost the bass.
The only negative think about these headphones is the voice it uses for feedback, like telling you what device it's connected to or what mode you just switched to. It's just really horrible and hard to listen to. Fortunately you don't have to listen to it very often, but there are much better voice readers out there, so it's kind of disappointing. Ultimately, the voice doesn't affect the experience all that much.
BOTTOM LINE: I am so glad I have these headphones when for when I go into the office, but I'll be using them for more than just noise cancellation. The audio quality is superior to anything I've had before, so I'll be reaching for these headphones next time I listen to music. I would definitely recommend these headphones.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Spearheading the Wi-Fi 7 revolution with cutting-edge technology and unimaginable power, the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700 harnesses the power of Wi-Fi 7 to unleash speeds up to 19 Gbps. With 320MHz channels and multi-link operation, experience lower latency and dramatically enhanced Wi-Fi performance. Leveraging NETGEAR's over 25 years of Wi-Fi expertise, the RS700 features a sleek body with high-performance antennas and a significantly smaller footprint. A 10 Gigabit Ethernet port unlocks fast speeds of today and tomorrow. Experience the next-generation gaming, AR/VR, and 8K video - all streaming flawlessly in your home.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Blazing Fast, Wide Coverage, Easy to Use
on October 7, 2023
Posted by: Birby
Hardware itself is solid and feels like good quality. It's larger than I thought and has some heft to it. I like that there is a power button on the back to kill the power rather than unplugging it and losing the plug behind the cabinet. The front has your typical indicator lights but you can simply turn them on and off with a button on the front, which is a nice touch, allowing me to hit the button to quickly to check the internet status, etc.
Setup was simple. Just scan the QR code from the papers inside the box, download the app, and set up the router. The app walks you through the setup. You do have to create an account with Netgear, but that's standard now for routers.
The app is very easy to use. You have access to standard settings inside the app, but it doesn't allow you to access all the features. If you need to change advanced features, like DHCP reservations, you need to log into the web interface to make those changes. The web interface is intuitive and easy to use.
The router has a number of features. The Netgear Armor vulnerability scanning is a nice touch. It did not find any issues, not that I expected any, but it's good to get that piece of mind. You only get 1 year of the vulnerability scanning and then you have to pay for it. I'm also testing out the parental controls. I have a different device for that, but it's not working with this router, likely since it's so new. I have been testing out the parental controls and they work well. I mostly use it for bedtimes and that has worked well so far. You have the ability to set up bedtimes, content levels, time limits, basically everything you'd want. They even have an app you can install on the kid's devices to monitor them when they are off the network.
Performance is significantly better than last two routers provided by two different service providers. I get at least 600 Mbsp every time I do a speed test on a 1 Gbps connection with my iPhone 13 using WIFI 6. I get the same speed right next to the router as I do one floor up with the door closed. Even the PlayStation 5, which has had WIFI issues since we got it, works flawlessly. I've read that the PS5 works much better with WIFI 6, and that's the truth. Previously we had it hard wired when downstairs, and then when it was moved upstairs, we had to plug it into the service provider's pod because the WIFI on the PS5 was worse than the WIFI on our PS4 in the same location. Now with the Nighthawk, we get better performance and lower latency over WIFI than the previous two routers.
The only unexpected or disappointing thing was that when I set up the guest WIFI, it rebooted the router. It's not a huge deal because it's only done once, but it wasn't something that I was expecting and interrupted the internet for a few minutes.
I am very happy with this router. The is the best router I have every had, which makes sense since the tech keeps getting better. The combination of the fast speeds, wide coverage, features and ease of use, make this an amazing router. I would definitely recommend this to anyone with a fast internet connection that wants to get the most out of their internet speeds.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Explore Samsung’s 32" Odyssey G51C gaming monitor with 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time (MPRT). QHD resolution creates a gaming world more lifelike than ever before, with incredibly detailed, pin-sharp images. Experience vibrant, awe-inspiring graphics and find hidden details with HDR10. Featuring AMD FreeSync™ Premium and ergonomic design, the G51C is ideal for uninterrupted and beyond-comfortable gaming.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent Gaming Monitor
on May 8, 2023
Posted by: Birby
My son and I have been looking for a gaming monitor for a while for pc gaming and for his PS5. This monitor should get the job done.
Pros
32in screen size (for gaming or work)
Gaming performance
Adjustable (height, tilt, rotate 90 degrees)
Cons
No speakers (not an issue, just an FYI if you didn't know already)
Unboxing and assembly was simple. I only needed a screwdriver to install the stand to the base and the rest just clicks into place. The manual was easy to read and understand.
This monitor offers many adjustments to meet your needs. You can adjust the height, tilt back and forth, and even rotate 90 degrees to vertical. The one downside to rotating 90 degrees is that the stand isn't quite tall enough to rotate 90 degrees without having to tilt the monitor. That should be an issue unless you are limited on space, but if you are gaming with it, you'll probably have it horizontal anyways.
Using the joystick to manage settings on the monitor is very easy and intuitive. It's much better than the older 4 buttons aligned horizontally most monitors have.
You don't get speakers on this monitor, which is fine because monitor speakers aren't usually great anyway, or you use headphones. There is a headphone jack on the back of the monitor. That's not a great place for it as my headphone cable was a bit tight, but it could be closer to you than a PC. The cable management strap is nice to have since I like to keep my cables tidy. The stand is stable and feels sturdy so I'm not concerned about the monitor tipping over. The feet stick out beyond the monitor, which may not be desirable, but that's how they keep it from tipping over. Although the monitor won't tip over, it does wobble a bit when using the joystick to adjust settings.
Gaming looks amazing on this monitor. I'm very happy with the 32in for gaming. The 165Hz refresh rate with HDR10 don't disappoint. I played Halo Infinite for quite a while and the gaming performance is great. My son play Fortnite on the PS5 and appreciates the 120Hz refresh rate.
I connected my work laptop to the monitor and that QHD resolution give you a ton on desktop space to work with. I did notice that the black isn't as good as the monitors I use for work. Not a big deal since it's my gaming monitor.
I am very happy with the performance of this monitor. It's gaming performance is great, which is what I'm using it for. I would definitely recommend this monitor.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
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Introducing the new Alienware m17 R5 - Alienware’s most powerful 17-inch AMD-based laptop ever. Game, create, and stream content with powerful AMD Ryzen 6000 series processors and up to 64GB Dual Channel DDR5 4800MHz memory. Play with a cutting edge with exceptional power enabled by updated Alienware Cryo-tech cooling that dissipates heat to maintain system stability during the highest performance states.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent Gaming Laptop
on February 7, 2023
Posted by: Birby
I finally got my hands on an Alienware laptop and I'm not dissapointed. The first boot was impressive with the keyboard, power button, and back LEDs all light up. Setup was easy, though likely the result of Windows 11, not Alienware. Once the computer was set up, I was able to quickly install my own software/games. There doesn't appear to be any of bloatware on this laptop, which is refreshing.
The Alienware software allows you to customize a number of different things. I was able to change the LEDs from the default of blue to yellow, my son's favorite color. You even have the ability to change certain keys to different colors, like WASD, QWERTY, and the numbers.
This might be on the lower end of the spectrum for Alienware gaming laptops, but you wouldn't know it based on how it performs. This laptop performs flawlessly with Halo Infinite and Far Cry 5 (a little older, but still good). The fan runs while playing, but it's not all that loud and the fan speed seems to be steady while playing a game. The speakers perform well. They sound is better than any other laptop I have.
The power brick is quite big and heavy, but I guess that's expected for a laptop this size. My one problem with the brick is that the plug seems to come out fairly easily, so I have to be careful when moving the cord or brick around.
If you are looking for a quality, fast gaming laptop, but don’t need the top of the line, then this is the laptop for you.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
SmoothSkin Pure Mini combines the best of our technology in our most compact device yet! Delivering fast treatments to a maximum of 4J/cm2, you will see visible results in just 4 weeks and up to 97% hair reduction after 12 weeks! Featuring our patented Smart Skin Sensing Technology, Pure Mini measures your skin tone with each flash and automatically tailors its entergy output accordingly for personalized, safe and longer-lasting results. Clinically proven and FDA cleared for permanent and safe hair reduction on your body and face. SmoothSkin PUre Mini features two comfort settings, a precision head attachment and 3 intensity levels for an IPL experience tailored to your personal needs: Power Mode is the highest intensity setting perfet for stubborn areas, Gentle Mode is ideal for more sensitive areas. The precision head helps treating smaller areas. What's more, a full body treatment takes only 10 minutes!
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Mixed Results
on November 20, 2022
Posted by: Birby
My wife and I tried the SmoothSkin Pure Mini IPL Hair Removal System with mixed results. I had success, but she didn't. The product itself is very easy to use. It does get hot pretty quickly, and depending on the area you are treating, it could be slightly painful. Once the device gets hot, the time between pulses can increase. The light it emits is very bright, even when fully pressed down. It's so bright that my wife would close her eyes when treating me or herself, which made it hard to see what she was doing.
Both my wife and I have light skin. My wife treated my upper back. After only a week or two, we noticed a difference. After 6 weeks, there is virtually no hair left. My wife estimates that only 5% of the hair is left. My wife treated her under arms (arm pits) with no noticeable results after 6 weeks.
I am very happy with my results. Unfortunately, my wife is disappointed with hers. She has used other products in the past with better success, but she has not used those products on her under arms, so she does not have a direct comparison.
Based on our results, I recommend this product, but my wife would not.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Samsung T7 Shield 1TB, Portable SSD, up to 1050 MB/S, USB 3.2 Gen2, Rugged, IP65 Rated, for Photographers, Content Creators, and Gaming, External Solid State Drive, Blue.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great Performance in a Small Form Factor
on May 28, 2022
Posted by: Birby
I have been on the lookout for an external drive and this one is just what I needed. It’s small, fast and durable.
The setup is literally plug and play on my HP Spectre x360 Windows laptop running Windows 10. The drive comes with Samsung software right at the root of the drive, for enabling encryption and firmware updates. I don’t care to encrypt it at this point and there weren’t any updates, but the software interface is simple and intuitive.
I performed some speed tests on the drive and on my internal SSD (HP Spectre x360). My internal SSD was the fastest at 1550 MB/s sequential reads. With USB-C the T7 did 1057 MB/s sequential reads and with USB-A it did 460 MB/s sequential reads (see attached screenshots).
Pros:
-Small
-Fast
-Durable
-Comes with two cables, one for USB-A and one forUSB-C
Cons:
-None that I found
Final Thoughts: The Samsung T7 Shield is an excellent external USB drive. It is rugged and fast. The compatability across Windows, Mac and Android is great and the fact the drive comes with the software embedded is a plus. I would definitely recommend this drive to anyone.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
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True wireless noise cancelling Beats Fit Pro with comfortable, secure-fit wingtips are engineered for all-day activity. The flexible wingtip design conforms to your ear to comfortably lock in place so you can experience powerful, balanced sound during your work day or your workouts. With two distinct listening modes, you are in control of what you hear. Fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) uses real-time audio calibration to continuously pinpoint external sounds and optimize sound output, and when you need to be aware of your surroundings, easily switch to Transparency mode. Beats Fit Pro supports Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for immersive music, movies, and games.¹ These earbuds are powered by the Apple H1 chip. The result — instant one-touch pairing², Automatic Switching³, Audio Sharing⁵, and hands-free “Hey Siri”⁴ for Apple devices. For Android users, easily connect via Class 1 Bluetooth® right out of the box. With the Beats app for Android¹¹, you’ll get enhanced features like one-touch pairing, customized controls, battery levels, firmware updates, and a Fit Test to help you get the best sound and fit out of your earbuds. Each earbud has up to 6 hours of listening time⁶ with 18 additional hours⁷ provided by its matching, pocket-sized charging case to give you up to 24 hours of combined playback.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Can I just say WOW?
on November 14, 2021
Posted by: Birby
from Seacoast, NH
My previous in-ear headphones are AirPods second generation. Those are good, but these Beats Fit Pro headphones are great.
The initial setup on the Beats was easy, just open the case near your iPhone and the phone walks you through the setup. In the Bluetooth settings for the Beats, you can run an Ear Fit Test to make sure you have the right ear tip size for the noise cancellation to work successfully, something I never would have thought of. I figured I would use the middle size, but it suggested to use the large ones.
These fit nicely in my ears. I have worn them for 3 hours in a row and didn’t really notice they were there. It’s pretty easy to twist them into my ears to get the right fit. Once they are in, there’s not getting them out without intent. I haven’t been able to knock them out.
The Noise Cancelling (ANC) is great. I vacuumed using both my Beats and my AirPods and there was a huge difference in the amount of sound that got through. It’s nice to be able to cycle to Transparency if I need to hear things around me.
You can interact with ANC and Spatial audio right from volume widget in the control center. You can make even more customizations in the Bluetooth settings. You can change the action for Press and Hold (ANC, Siri or Volume), enable/disable Automatic Ear Detection, and specify a specific ear for the microphone (or have Beats choose).

I really like the buttons on these vs the AirPods. They are much more versatile than the AirPods. You can perform all actions from either ear. You can pause or answer/end call, go to the next track or go to the previous track and change the noise cancelling. As mentioned above, you can change the Press and Hold function from ANC to Sir or Volume (Left is volume down, Right is volume up). I love being able to change the volume from the Beats without having to find the volume buttons on the phone.
If there was one negative thing to say, it’s about the 9 inch USB-C charging cable. It seems like it might be too short, but maybe it’s fine since once you put it down to charge, you probably won’t pick it up again until it’s done, compared to you phone where you are likely to use it when it’s charging. The use of USB-C is fine as most things are going that way, I just don’t happen to have a USB-C AC adapter, so I may have to pick one up.
Pros:
- Comfortable and they stay put
- Versatile buttons
- Noise Cancelling performance has been great so far.
Con:
- The only thing I’m disappointed in is the short USB-C cable’s, but that’s minor since it can easily be replaced if it doesn’t work out.
I have been really impressed with the performance and quality of the Beats Fit Pro headphones. I would definitely recommend these headphones.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+8points
8of 8voted this as helpful.
 
Way more. Way faster. This 44mm Gen 6 touchscreen smartwatch features a black silicone strap, 2x faster charging speed (80% in a little over 30 minutes), Qualcomm 4100+ technology and tons of personalization options.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great for My First Smartwatch
on October 23, 2021
Posted by: Birby
from Seacoast, NH
The Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch is my first smartwatch. I was just looking for something to track my steps more accurately as I don’t always have my phone on me around the house and to have a way to track my workouts. What I didn’t expect was that I would end up liking the other features, like the Google Assistant, weather/UV and I actually like getting some notifications on the watch, which I thought I would turn off completely.
The setup and pairing with my iPhone was easy, since I had a google account already, but time consuming since you have to download and log into the Wear OS, Google Fit and create an account for Cardiogram, so it wasn’t a simple process. There is an on-screen tutorial once setup is complete, but for me it got hung up with a “swipe another direction” on the screen and I had to reboot the watch, so not a good first impression. For an iPhone, you have to keep the Wear OS app open in the background, for me it has only taken up 1% of the battery. I have had to mess around with the watch multiple times to get it to reconnect to the watch after being disconnected overnight and event losing the connection during the day.
The size is perfect and the weight is manageable. The hardware shortcut buttons are nice to quickly launch apps and I like that I can customize 2 out of the 3. Scrolling with the middle button is smooth and really convenient. It’s easier sometimes to scroll with the button than swiping. Swiping between tiles is smooth.
The battery life has been good so far. At the end of the day it has been anywhere between 20-40% battery life remaining. Some of the watch faces have an alternative face when “always-on screen” is enabled. I like to always see the time but allow it to reduce the battery usage. I didn’t notice a huge difference in battery life between having “always-on screen” vs “tilt to wake”, so I have stuck with always-on. There are two battery modes: Daily and Extended. I stick with Daily and customized it a little to my liking. I expect I’ll be charging it daily.
There are a number of watch faces that come pre-loaded. I wanted to use an analog watch face, but I didn’t like how I couldn’t see the data, like the weather or steps, at certain times because the watch hands covered the tile. I ended up with the Fossil Digital dashboard as my preferred watch face (see pictures). It’s simple and has 4 customizable data points. I prefer to have the battery, steps, weather and UV readily available.
For activity tracking, the Workout tile allows you to track your activity and provides some really nice statistics right on the watch like a heart rate chart, heart rate zones, average speed and pace for each workout. You don’t get all that data on the watch with the Google Fit tile, you must go into the app on your phone to get it. The one downside to the Workout tile is that it always assumes it’s a run, where with Google Fit, you can choose walk, run, bike, strength training and more. I like how you can choose an indoor workout in the Workout tile so it won’t use GPS.
The vibration and sound for notifications are subtle but effective. I can choose which apps send through a notification from the Wear OS app, so I can only get notified on my watch for the apps I care about. Controlling audio/video on the watch is a nice to have. While you are watching a youtube video or listening to music, you have audio controls, like pause, back/next and volume. Receiving calls is easy, I have it configured to accept on the watch and answer on the phone, but you can have it answer on the watch as well.
Overall, my experience with the Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch is positive. I have had a few problems with Bluetooth connectivity and having to restart the watch or Bluetooth. If it wasn’t for those issues, I would have given it 5 stars.
Pros:
- Traditional watch styling on a smartwatch
- Easy to use and navigate around
- Activity statistics right on the watch
- Good selection of watch faces, and even more from the Play store
- Notifications sounds and vibrations are just right, but can also be adjusted.
Cons
- Issues with Bluetooth reconnecting to the phone
- An instruction manual would have been helpful or at least a manual in the Wear OS app.
- You don’t get all features on an iPhone, but that’s to be expected for a Google based watch
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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